Train-pipe coupling.



J. G. HUNT & J. L. MOKENNA. TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1913.

1,090,539. Patented Mar.17,1914.

2 BHEBTB-QHEHT 1.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, n4 6.

l CFFTQE.

JOHN C. HUNT AND JOSEPH L. MGKENNA, OF HENRY, COLORADO.

TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Patented Mar. 17, acre.

Application filed August 27, 1913. Serial No. 786,978.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JoHN C. HUNT and JOSEPH L. MoKnNNA, citizens of the United States, residing at Henry, in the county of Washington and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train-Pipe Couplings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relatesto improvements in train pipe couplings and has for its primary.

object to provide simple, eflicient and reliable means for opening communication between the air line pipe sections when the coaches are coupled together.

The invention has for another object to provide improved means for mounting the pipe sections whereby movement of the same relative to the car or coach is permitted to compensate for inequalities in the positions of the airline pipe sections with respect to each other and with respect to the road bed.

The invention has for still another object to provide a valve carried by each of the air line pipe sections and operating means therefor whereby said valve is automatically opened when the cars or coaches are coupled together and immediately closed when the same are uncoupled.

The invention has for still another of its objects to generally improve and simplify the construction of devices of the above character, to render the same highly durable and eflicient in practical operation and capable of installation without necessitating any material alterations in the car construction or train equipment.

With the above and other objects in view as will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, combinations and arrangements of the parts that we shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the opposed ends of two train coaches, one of the same being shown partially in section, said coaches being uncoupled; Fig. 2. is a similar view showing the air line pipe sections coupled together; Fig. 3 is an end elevation; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 14L of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 designates the two coaches of a train which are adapted to be coupled together by a coupler of any approved type now in co1nlnon use. Each of the coaches carries two air llnepipe sections designated 6 and 7 respectively. Each of the pipe sections 6 and 7 extends through an opening 8 provlded in the car wall or other suitable support indicated at 9. These openings are relatively large so that the air line pipes may move therein in the vibration of the coach when the coaches are coupled together, thereby avoiding liability of injury to said pipes.

As the construction of the air line pipe sections and the manner of mounting the same upon each of the coaches is identical, tbhehdetail description of one will sufiice for It will be understood as the description proceeds that the correspondingly constructed end portions of the pipe sections mounted upon each coach are reversed with respect to the ends of the coach. Each of these pipe sections at one of its ends is provided with a tapering or conical terminal 10, and upon one side of the pipe section adjacent to this conical end, the same is formed with a boss or protuberance 11 having an outlet port 12. i

The end of the pipe section 6 carried by the adjacent coach is preferably beveled or inclined as shown at 13, the same being closed and adjacent thereto, the pipe is pro vided with a recess or depression 1 1, in the base of which the port 15 is formed. To the latter end of each of the pipe sections, a tube 16 is secured in any preferred manner. This tube is constructed of metal, and the train line pipe section is eccentrically re lated thereto, the port 15 of the air line pipe opening into said tube adjacent its longitudinal center. The metal tube 16 is of sufficient length to extend through the open ing 8 in the pipe support 9, and at its outer end, said tube is diametrically enlarged or flared as shown at 17.

It will be understood that each of the pipe sections mounted upon the coach is en tirely independent of the other. Coil springs 18 yieldingly support each pipe section at one of its ends, said springs being fixed to the wall or support 9 and to the tube 16, while at the other end of said tube section, the same is yieldingly supported by means of the springs 19 and 20 arranged respectively upon opposite sides of the wall 9 and secured thereto and to said pipe section.

In each of the air line pipe sections, adjacent one of its ends, a valve generally indicated at 22 may be arranged. This valve may be of any ordinary or approved construction and includes the usual rotary valve member having a stem to one end of which an arm 23 is fixed. To the other end of this arm, a rod 2% is pivotally connected. This rod extends longitudinally of the air line pipe and beyond the end wall of the car or coach, the same being provided with an enlarged head 25. Upon the flared end 17 of the opposed air line pipe, an abutment plate 26 is suitably secured. The arm 23 which actuates the rotary valve member is provided with an extension 27 towhich one end of a coil spring 28 is attached, the other end of said spring being secured to the under frame or other relatively stationary part of the car. 7

From the above description, the operation of our invention will be understood as follows: It will be noted from the accompanying drawings, that the pointed or conical end 10 of one of the pipe sections carried by one train coach is opposed to the flared end of the metal tube 16 which is secured to the opposite end of the corresponding air line pipe carried by a second coach. As the coaches are brought together to be coupled, the conical terminal 10 of the pipe on one coach enters the flared end 17 of the metal tube on the air pipe of the other coach and is directed by said flared end of the tube into close frictional engagement with the rubber air tube, the protuberance 11 of the first pipe section seating in the depression or recess 14- of the pipe section carried by the latter coach. Thus the ports 12 and 15 are brought into registering relation so that there is free unrestricted communication between the pipe sections carried by the connected coaches. As the pipe sections are thus coupled together, the abutment plate 26 mounted upon the flared end of the tube 16 engages the head 25 of the rod 21 and forces said rod longitudinally against the action of the spring 28, thereby rotating the valve member 22 and opening communication between the connected pipe sections, so that the air may pass freely therethrough. The valve 22 is held in its open position while the air line pipes are coupled together. The jar or shock which would otherwise be occasioned by the impact when the train line pipe sections engage with each other is taken up by the longitudinally extending springs 20 while the springs 18 and 19 act to yieldingly permit of a relative movement of the pipe sections in a plane at right angles to their longitudinal axis.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction and manner of operation of our invention will be clearly and fully understood. It will be seen that we have produced a very efiicient and reliable pipe coupling-which is admirably adapted for use in connection with the air line pipe of car brakes, and operates to automatically open communication between the several pipe sections when the cars are coupled together and immediately close such communication when the cars are uncoupled. Our invention may be readily applied to cars now in general use without necessitating any material alterations in their construction and as the device is also comparatively simple, it willbe obvious that the same can be produced at small manufacturing cost.

While we haveshown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the several elements employed, it is obvious that the invention is susceptible of many minor modifications and we therefore reserve the right to resort to all such legitimatechanges as maybe fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention, as claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. The combination with the pipe sections adapted to be coupled together, of a tube fixed to one of said pipe sect-ions, said pipe section being eccentrically disposed'within the tube, said pipe sections having ports adapted to register with each other when the pipe sections are coupled together, a valve arranged in the other pipe section, operating means for said valve including a longitudinally movable member, and means fixed to the end of the tube to engage said member and actuate the same when the pipe sections are coupled together.

2. The combination with the pipe sections, of a metal tube, one of said pipe sections be ing eccentrically disposed within the tube. and secured thereto, said tube having a flared end the other of said pipe sections being adapted to engage the flared end of the tube and enter the same, said pipe sections being provided with ports adapted to register with each other when the sections are coupled together, a valve arranged in the other of said pipe sections, an arm fixed to the stem of the valve, a longitudinally movable member connected to said arm, means fixed upon said tube on the other pipe section to engage said rod and actuate the same to open the valve when the pipe sections are coupled, and a spring acting to close said valve when the pipe sections are uncoupled.

3. The combination with the pipe sections adapted to be coupled together, a metal tube of appreciably greater diameter than the pipe sections, one of said sections being ecoentrically disposed Within the tube and secured to the wall-thereof, said metal tube having a flared end to provide an entrance mouth for the other pipe section, said flared end of the tube being provided With a Wall extending across and closing the end of the pipe section Which is arranged therein, said latter pipe section friotionally engaging the first named pipe section and the Wall of the metal tube at a point opposite thereto, each of said pipe sections having a port, said ports registering With each other When the pipe sections are coupled together.

In testimony whereof We hereunto aflix our signatures in the presence of two Wit- 15 nesses.

JOHN C. HUNT. JOSEPH L. MOKENNA.

Witnesses:

LEWIS H. DENO, MORRIS WAGNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

